Category: Atonement
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Mediator Between God and Man
Do Latter-day Saints and Bible-believing Christians agree on the essential issues of the faith? The answer, quite simply, is no. This story of the teaching of an LDS seminary teacher illustrates the point.
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Jeffrey R. Holland’s Mischaracterization of Christianity’s Sacred Symbol
Jeffrey R. Holland, the fourth highest ranking LDS Church leader based on seniority, gave a talk at the October 2022 general conference titled “Lifted Up Upon the Cross” (Liahona, November 2022, 77-80). In his 13-minute address, Holland diminished those who believe the cross should be a cherished Christian symbol. As we approach Holy Week during…
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Is Jesus the Only Redeemer? In Mormonism, It Depends.
In the April 2022 issue of the LDS magazine For the Strength of Youth, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson, commented, “Jesus Christ’s Atonement was infinite. He saved all humankind from never-ending death. He suffered intensely, beyond what any mortal could suffer. His suffering was for all people…
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Confusion over Gethsemane and the Atonement
Posted 7/2021 Traditionally most LDS leaders have stressed the importance of what took place in the Garden of Gethsemane for the atonement. Some leaders in recent years are attempting to include what took place at the cross as part of the narrative. This issue was discussed in the April 2021 Liahona magazine, an official LDS…
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Mormonism’s Confusion Over Christ’s Atonement for Sin
In the April 2021 issue of Liahona magazine, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints explains in its “Gospel Basics” column that “Jesus Christ Saved Us from Sin and Death.” “We refer to Jesus Christ as our Savior. That is because He paid the price for our sins and overcame the power of death.…
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The Garden? Calvary? Tomb? Just Where Did the LDS Atonement Take Place?
Viewpoint on Mormonism shows on this article aired March 31-April 2, 2021. Listen to them here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Over the years, leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have stressed the importance of the Garden of Gethsemane as the place where Jesus atoned for sins. In earlier times, Gethsemane…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Atonement
Mormonism’s definition of the atonement is unique when compared to what has been historically taught in biblical Christianity. The Cross For Mormons, the symbol of the cross is a negative symbol because Mormon leaders say that the atonement took place in the Garden of Gethsemane. Tenth President Joseph Fielding Smith explained, GREATEST SUFFERING WAS IN…
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Book Review: The Infinite Atonement
By Tad R. CallisterDeseret Book, 2000 Reviewed by Eric Johnson In his book titled The Infinite Atonement, Tad R. Callister—a lawyer for 34 years who served in the LDS Presidency of the Seventy until he was honorably released from the position in 2014 and who currently serves as the Sunday School general president—wrote a best-selling…
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Joseph Smith Is Needed if the Atonement To Be “Fully Efficacious”
Note: The following was originally printed in the May/June 2017 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here. In the first volume of Doctrines of Salvation, tenth Mormon President Joseph Fielding Smith made it very clear that there is “no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith” (1:188). While some might think that Mormonism has matured…
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Mormon Apostle Urges Gaining a Sound and Sure Knowledge of the Atonement
In preparation for Easter, the LDS Church’s March Ensign magazine includes a “Gospel Classic” article titled, “The Three Gardens of God.” Originally titled, “The Purifying Power of Gethsemane,” this was a General Conference address delivered by LDS Apostle Bruce McConkie in April 1985. The March 2016 Ensign article is significantly shorter than Mr. McConkie’s original…
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Why Christians Glory in the Cross
Why Christians glory in the cross By Bill McKeever The following was originally printed in the May-June 2005 edition of Mormonism Researched. To request a free subscription, please visit here. https://mrm.org/newsletter
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Why Not Gethsemane?
Why Not Gethsemane? By Bill McKeever Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Mormonism Researched, May-June 2005. Where Christ actually took upon Himself the sins of mankind has been a bone of contention between Mormons and Christians for decades. In their book Third Nephi 9-30: This Is My Gospel, Mormon authors Monte S. Nyman and…
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Two parables about the Atonement
Understanding the Atonement of Christ is vital if we are to understand exactly what salvation is all about. In 1977, Apostle Boyd K. Packer told a parable that talked about a creditor, debtor, and a third party who paid the debt. Then this friend turns the tables and says that he is the debtor’s new…
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Gethsemane (Defined)
Gethsemane. Traditionally, according to LDS leaders, this the place where the heart of the atonement took place. Apostle Bruce R. McConkie explained, “Where and under what circumstances was the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God made? Was it on the Cross of Calvary or in the Garden of Gethsemane? It is to the Cross of…
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Why No Crosses?
By Bill McKeever You may have noticed that Mormon temples are normally adorned with a golden angel rather than a cross. The fact is, crosses are never used on any Mormon buildings. Strangely enough, Mormon leaders have often pointed to the Garden of Gethsemane as the place where Christ’s atonement took place.
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The Law of Sacrifice as Opposed to Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice
Many scriptures remind us that our salvation has been purchased by the final, perfect sacrifice of Christ. However, in the article The Law of Sacrifice (Ensign, Oct 1998, pp. 6-13) LDS Apostle M. Russell Ballard reflects a different point of view – one more in keeping with the view that salvation must be earned. To…
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Calvary or Gethsemane? The Atonement According to Mormonism
By Bill McKeever Each spring millions of Christians celebrate the death and resurrection of their Lord. In light of the fact that this is one of the most important events within the Christian tradition, it is important for us to examine and understand the spiritual significance of Christ’s sacrifice in light of the teachings of…